Absence of quorum in JS
On Wednesday, the Jatiya Sangsad session was adjourned because of the lack of a quorum. While we realise that it is rather too early in the day to comment on such situations, we do hope that it does not become a pattern. It is regrettable that even as the nation happens to be going through a crisis over the BDR tragedy, our lawmakers, especially those in the ruling coalition, have already begun demonstrating disquieting indifference to the JS. This quorum crisis is but a repetition of the past, where parliamentary sessions were rendered pointless through similar attitudes on the part of the then ruling party. We would like to make it clear here that the entire responsibility for the quorum crisis on Wednesday must be borne by the chief whip and other whips of the treasury bench as they have more than three-fourths of the seats.
Let us be clear about the responsibilities of our lawmakers. They must regard their job not only as a sacred trust but also as service to the people. That is not only because they have been entrusted by a sacred vote but also because they are paid to do their job and that they enjoy facilities that are generally not the preserve of other people in society. The very perks they enjoy must surely make them more conscious of their role.
That said, we must also point out that our concerns today are not only about a quorum in the Jatiya Sangsad but about certain other aspects of politics as well. For instance, we think that far too much time than necessary was recently lost in the JS over the President's address. Obviously, the questionable role that President Iajuddin Ahmed (who has by now left office) played in the last two years was clear to everyone. Given that reality, should such a long time have been expended on what he had to say to the ninth Parliament at its inaugural session? Did that discussion serve any purpose?
There are other factors that have been disappointing for the country. Instead of a healthy debate on issues, we have observed ruling lawmakers trying to outdo one another in heaping praise on the Leader of the House in a shameless attempt to gain her favour. Such sycophancy does grave damage to democratic politics and diminishes the dignity of the parliament.
On a more serious note, we are not pleased at the way the ruling party has gone about treating the opposition in the JS. It has spared little or no opportunity to make caustic and derogatory remarks about the opposition in the House. The embarrassing incident of state-owned Bangladesh Television blacking out the speech of the Leader of the Opposition on the BDR tragedy was the ultimate affront. Surely the heavens would not fall if Begum Zia's address had been heard by the nation? The ruling party might respond that in the past their adversaries did the same to them. We then ask: where is the change we have looked forward to?
All said and done, we do acknowledge that the JS has meanwhile adopted or is in the process of adopting some important legislation, such as the Right to Information. Let this spirit work in developing cooperation and confidence among all lawmakers.
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